Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-12
A DANGEROUS GUEST.


The party, though small, was a
very brilliant one and as the night
waslovely, and the spacious grounds
sprinkled with starlightand flowers,
we all emerged from the stately man
sion into the open air, and were soon
scattered in knots, here and there,
epioying the soft, balmy breezes
that we're whispering through The
simmer leaves, and gazing on the
miniature lake in Central Park,
close by, that, in the silvery beams
OF the rising moon, had just begun
TO sparkle as though it were some
gigantic jewel scintillating in the
bosom of the landscape.
During the evening l had been
presented to several ladies of ex-
ceeding beauty and of great wealth,
among whom l noted one OF such
surprising loveliness that, now, as
I chanced to perceive her leaning
on the arm OF my friend Frederick
the son of our generous host
thought him one of the most fortu-
nate fellows in the world; for l
could comprehend that his heart
and that of the exquisite and ac-
complished creature by his side
we're entangled in the meshes OF
the same sllken net.
Frederick was a very handsome
fellow of abont twentyseven, while
Miss l., or "the beautiful Flor
encev-as she was sometimes called
had Just completed her twenty
first year. They were engaged in
low and earnest conversation as
tbey sauntered close by secluded
arbor to which had uncOnsciously
wandered. and where found SOL
itary seat. From the denseness OF
the foliage that surrounded me,
they passed without observing me,
and left me to a train of thought
which l was pursuing, when the en-
trance of the arbor was suddenly
darkened by the figure of a man,
who had Just darted across the
rustic path out of a cIump of ever
greens. l perceived at a glance
that he was not one of the guests,
for he wore thick boots, a slouched
hat and a coarse peajacket while
a single glimpse of his heavy un-
der.iaw and huge, rough hands,
not to speak of his massive, low
heap of a form, induced me to steal
cautiously from where | sat and
conceal myself behind the trunk OF
a tree that stood within the leafy
grottO.
I had not been secreted here but
a few seconds, when the man, who
appeared to be intensely watching
the young couple who had Just
gone down the walk, uttered a sup
pressed exclamation, and the next
instant a second figure stood in the
opening also. This time, however,
it was that of q woman, beautiful
as the day, but with an expression
of countenance so fiendish, that, the
moment she threw back the hood
of the mantle that envelOped her
whole form and revealed her fea-
lures in the tender lustre that fell
upon them, had almost betrayed
myself, so great was my surprise.
On making some observation to the
man. which | was unable TO hear,
she suddenly drew him deeper into
the grotto, until they both stood
within a single yard of me, in al
most impenetrable gloom. Here
after a brief pause, she exclaimed,
| in a voice which, although sup
pressed, seemed terribly cruel and
excited
"Have you seen them have you
seen them? They passed but a few
moments since, and alone! CASTOR,
YOU have deceived me! In this re
mote part of the grounds, which
knew they would seek, you might
| have done the work from behind
securely and without detection, fol
you could have escaped the momen
she fell. And here was the pOln
that you yourself selected. ! have
been drawn toward the spot l can
! tell how! Why did you not strike
he would not have deserted her tC
pursue youl After them, man af
ter them, and avenge me, If yo'
would have wealth and the protec
ton of one who can almost set tht
law at defiance +"
l was paralyzed, but dared no
attempt to move, as | was total,
unarmed; for | knew that the des
perate william would make shor
work of me, and if he was awar'
that | had overheard what ha'
been lust uttered. l therefore de
termined to remain concealed unit
| heard the returning footsteps Q
my friend and his fair companion
or until the consplratOrs had SCI
tied upon some definite plan of az
ton. 1 had arrived at this hurrie
conclusion when the current of m
tbonohts was interrupted by th